World Language Immersion Program expands for 2013-14 school year

More than 900 kindergarteners and first graders will be enrolled next fall in Governor Jack Markell's World Language Expansion Initiative Program.

Staff Reports

More than 900 kindergarteners and first graders will be enrolled next fall in Governor Jack Markell's World Language Expansion Initiative Program.

Seven more schools across the state will begin offering students the opportunity to participate in an elementary immersion program studying either Mandarin Chinese or Spanish. An annual investment of $1.9 million will support the program reaching nearly 10,000 students in K-8 immersion programs by 2022.

Schools participating in the first year of implementation include: McIlvaine Early Childhood Center (Caesar Rodney School District, Kent County), John. M. Clayton Elementary School (Indian River School District, Sussex County) and Lewis Elementary School (Red Clay Consolidated School District, New Castle County).

An additional seven schools will begin offering the program for the 2013-2014 school year. The following schools are:

Spanish Immersion Programs

- South Dover Elementary School (Capital School District, Kent County)

- Pulaski Elementary School (Christina School District, New Castle County)

- Blades Elementary School (Seaford School District, Sussex County)

- West Seaford Elementary (Seaford School District, Sussex County)

Mandarin Chinese Immersion Programs

- Downes Elementary School (Christina School District, New Castle County)

- Wilbur Elementary School (Colonial School District, New Castle County)

- New Castle Elementary School (Colonial School District, New Castle County)

Delaware's immersion model includes 50 percent instruction in the world language and 50 percent in English. Classes have two teachers, one for each language. The program includes one-way immersion, with predominantly native English speakers, as well as two-way immersion, with two language groups such as native English and native Spanish speakers.

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